WAPT: Jackson special election to be set as early as Thursday

JACKSON, Mississippi — The Jackson City Council is set to meet Thursday and, according to WAPT, could set a date for a special mayoral election.

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba died late Tuesday afternoon at St. Dominic Hospital of natural causes, the Hinds County coroner said. Funeral arrangements have not yet been released.

Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman will serve as acting mayor until a new mayor is elected, city officials said. Tillman postponed Tuesday’s City Council meeting until Thursday morning.

“At the next regularly scheduled council meeting, they will adopt a date. (A special election) will be 30 to 45 days out from that date,” said Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann. “I think there is 20 days to qualify, and we’ll have an election. It takes a majority to win.”

There won’t be a primary election and candidates won’t have to declare party affiliation, Hosemann said.

If a candidate doesn’t secure 50 percent plus 1 vote, there will be a runoff held two weeks after the special election, Hosemann said.